Improvement in cigar-boxes



C. A. StEBKE.

Cigar-Boxes.

Paten-ted Dec. 22,)874.

WITNESSES:

murmurs.

ccn PHOTO-LITH-39& 4| PARK FLAG N Y ww i "UNITED STATES PATENMEEIQE CHARLES A. SIEOKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SIEOKE & WAN- NAOK, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CIGAR-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,137, dated December 22, 1874; application filed November 22, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. smoke, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Cigar- Package, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to an improvement in cigar-packages; and it consists in a metallic box or package which is provided with means for receiving a piece of wood or pasteboard, upon which the manufacturers stamp may be branded.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved cigar-box, taken on the line 00 a: of Fig. 2 and Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. 1 on the linezz.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In this example Ihave represented an ordinary tin box, A, soldered up air-tight, with the projecting double flanges B on the cover, to open the box readily by cutting them off with shears and with a supplementary bottom of wood, pasteboard, or other suitable material, D, on which to brand the manufacturers stamp 5 but I do not limit myself to a box of this construction, for boxes of other construction and material will serve my purpose, which is to re tain the nicotine-the volatile oil which gives the peculiar flavor and perfume to the tobacco, and which, when shut off from air in-airtight packages, cannot volatilize, but will not only be preserved any length of time, but will actually improve and purify the tobacco.

I have, by practical tests, found that cigars packed in air-tight boxes immediately after being made, and in a moist state, come out as fresh and green after several months as when put up, and believe they will be so retained indefinitely.

WVhen tobacco is in a moist condition, and packed as cigars in these air-tight packages, the chemical elements of it undergo a process of oxidation which improves the nicotine flavor, takes away the rank taste, and destroys,

or rather oxidizes, the nicotine, which is a poisonous alkaloid substance, materially differing from the nicotine, which it is desirable to preserve.

The importance of this method of packing cigars will be appreciated by all smokers and dealers who know the benefit of preserving the original moisture.

Another advantage derived by the use of my invention is to prevent the ravages of the tobacco-worm, which is generally found in the ordinary cigar-boxes, causing losses to dealers by damaging the cigars, while in the form of package proposed by me this result will not occur, for the worms cannot live and reproduce in an air-tight box.

As the revenue laws require that all cigarboxes shall be provided with a surface of wood or pasteboard, upon which the manufacturers stamp may be imprinted, a metallic box by itself cannot be used. In order to meet this requirement I form a recess in the top, bottom, sides, or ends of the box, in which the wood or pasteboard is inserted, as shown, so that it, to all appearances, forms a part of the boxitself.

Although this piece of wood is here shown as held in position by means of flanges, it is evident that the construction may be somewhat changed without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having thus described my inventiomlclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A metallic box, A, provided with a supplemental stamping-surface, D, of wood or pasteboard, which is secured to the box so as to form part "of it by means of the flanges projecting from the edges of the box, substantially as set forth.

CHARLES ALBERT SIEGKE. 

